Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 26, 2016

Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument Act

This bill establishes the Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina, which shall become a unit of the National Park System (NPS) when the Department of the Interior has:

acquired sufficient land or an interest in land within the monument's boundary to constitute a manageable unit, and

entered into a written agreement with Penn Community Services, Inc. (known as Penn Center) pursuant to this bill.

The bill declares that the monument's boundaries shall be the same as those of the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District.

Interior may enter into an agreement with Penn Center:

regarding the transfer of land or interests in land; and

delineating the respective roles and responsibilities of the National Park Service and Penn Center in the operation, maintenance, and interpretation of the monument.

Interior may acquire by donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange lands or interests in land within the monument's boundary and within its vicinity.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] · D–SC

Committees

Natural Resources Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 2, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
May 26, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 26, 2016
Introduced in House
May 26, 2016
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · May 26, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5358 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5358, 114th Congress: Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5358

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5358/BILLS-114hr5358ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5358 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5358 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5358, 114th Congress: Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5358

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5358/BILLS-114hr5358ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5358 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5358 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5358, 114th Congress: Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5358

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5358/BILLS-114hr5358ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5358 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5358 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5358, 114th Congress: Penn School - Reconstruction Era National Monument Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5358

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5358/BILLS-114hr5358ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5358 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.